He grinned. “Those two really hated each other.”
She tugged his cape. “So I get to keep you, the flowers and the ring?”
“They’re all yours. The flowers are new, but the ring and I have always been yours.”
They kissed, and he knew he’d never look at Halloween the same way again. There really was magic to be had under a full moon on All Hallow’s Eve. Even in a musty garage.
Chapter Sixteen
Maya sneezed from the dust she’d kicked up. “I can’t believe he didn’t just hire someone to move him.”
“Are you still bitching?” Riley sighed and carried another box into the dining room of Jack’s new place. “I’m glad you guys finally got everything out in the open,” she said to Ann.
“Yeah.” Ann hadn’t mentioned why Jack had believed Selena, but that he’d had cause to believe his guy friends who’d lied. No sense in wounding her man’s pride.
The past week had been a magic all its own. They’d spent time at her place, but once he moved in to his, they planned to alternate sleeping arrangements. It helped that he lived so close—and that they lived apart. Their relationship had progressed too fast, and Ann needed time to process. Separate abodes gave them some distance, while only being a five minute walk from each other.
“Hey, where’s the party?” A familiar voice asked.
Ann watched with amusement as Dex and Anson arrived in ratty jeans and sweatshirts.
“Time to move some junk,” Dex said.
“Not junk. My personal treasures,” Jack corrected. Items he’d had in a storage locker until now. Ann didn’t think he had that much, but her friends had complained so much she’d have thought he had enough to fill a mansion, not a small cottage. As it was, the place had come fully furnished, and they moved only his clothes, books and sports equipment in.
“Great timing, guys,” Maya snapped. “We’re just about done with all the heavy lifting.”
Dex grinned, unrepentant. “Awesome. That means pizza without having to work for it.”
Anson arched an imperious brow at Riley. “Might want to watch those precious hands. Your bakery needs you. I need you.” He winked. “Having you next door gives my builders a reason to keep coming back every day. Place smells good, I’ll grant you that. You should expand if you want to show a profit though. I could help you with the financial planning.”
Ann would have considered that an olive branch of sorts if he hadn’t offered his help in such a patronizing tone. She understood why Riley loathed him.
“Should you be outside in the light, Anson?” Riley asked sweetly. “Your kind is known for turning to ash under the sun.”
Maya snickered, and Dex coughed to hide a smile.
Ann and Jack exchanged a sigh. “I’ll go get the linens box,” she said.
“Right.” Jack hotfooted it toward the garage. “I’ll go, ah, do something away from them so I’m not called to the witness stand later.”
She laughed. “Funny guy. Come help me in your bedroom when you’re done.”
He kissed her. “Be right back.”
There were four more boxes in the storage van, and she grabbed the one markedlinens,leaving the one labeledweight equipmentfor the Black cousins. While Anson and Riley squared off and Dex watched on with glee, Maya joined her in the bedroom.
“You know, Riley’s right.” Maya helped her move boxes of clothes around so they had a clear path to Jack’s new closet. “Anson is an ass.”
“It’s his tone.”
“Makes me want to punch him.” Maya bumped Ann with her hip. “I know I bet against you, but I’m glad for you and Jack. All in all, he seems like a good guy.”
“He is.” Ann smiled, so in love it hurt. “But we’re going to do things right and take our time. No rush.”
“Yeah. Leave the revenge to the professionals.” Maya cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “So are you going to tell him about the baby?”
“I—”
